Anyone know if there are firm laws in place re motorists passing horses?

marley123

on roads etc & when would a motorist be in breech of them?

Wishbone Ash

This may help.

S.I. No. 294/1964 — Road Traffic General Bye-Laws, 1964.

PART V. ANIMALS ON ROADS.

Driver's duty when passing animals

30. A driver meeting or overtaking an animal on a road shall either reduce speed or halt the vehicle, if requested to do so (whether by signal or otherwise) by a person in charge of the animal.

Duties of drover
31.—(1) A person in charge of an animal which is being driven along or on to a road shall take all reasonable steps to ensure—

(a) that the animal does not obstruct other traffic or a pedestrian,

(b) that, save when being driven to or from land or premises, the animal is not on a cycle track or footway, and

(c) that traffic overtaking the animal has room to do so in safety.

(2) In this bye-law " driven " means conducted without a rein or lead.

Horses to be led on right side of road
32. A person leading a horse along a roadway shall, notwithstanding any other provision of these bye-laws, do so on the right side of the roadway.

Duties of drovers in darkness
33. During lighting-up hours a person in charge of animals on a road shall so carry, as to be likely to warn other road users of the presence of the animals, a lamp showing a white light visible for a reasonable distance in the direction in which the animals are travelling and a red light visible for a reasonable distance in the opposite direction.

ailbheg

From the Rules of the Road Respecting animal traffic

Always slow down and be prepared to stop when approaching or overtaking animals. If a person in charge of animals gives a signal to slow down or stop, you must obey it. Avoid using your horn if animals are in front of you, as it might frighten them.

I have a feeling the point about leading on the right is no longer true, at least I was taught to lead the horse on the left side, with the leader on the off side, between the horse and traffic. I'm going to go have another look through the rules of the road now.

ETA: Yep, here it is Leading/riding on the road

If you are riding or leading a horse, you must keep to the left-hand edge of the road. You should wear a high visibility vest and an approved riding helmet.

convert

My neighbour recently told me that a rider/individual in charge of a horse can actually summons a driver if they don't obey their directions. I haven't been able to find it in law, but apparently it's a technicality.

JillyQ

I always thought that the driver must obey any instructions given by the rider ie to slow down or to stop.

Ave Sodalis

convert wrote: »

My neighbour recently told me that a rider/individual in charge of a horse can actually summons a driver if they don't obey their directions. I haven't been able to find it in law, but apparently it's a technicality.

Hmmm... in which case, I think I may start issuing a few summons then so

I think I would nearly be a good idea to post a copy of this into everyone who will be driving through a horse populated area (i.e. everyone) as the amount of times people have been arrogant on the road, when I was riding, to the point of endangerment, is unbelievable. Cyclists would be another good target for passing the above onto... both for the horse/rider safety and their own.

ailbheg

sup_dude wrote: »

Cyclists would be another good target for passing the above onto... both for the horse/rider safety and their own.

It always amazes me when a cyclist (or car driver for that matter) comes whizzing up behind you and passes without giving much space. I know it's ignorance in most cases, they just don't realise that the horse could react badly, but surely common sense would make them think "This is an animal, I should give it more space as it could get a fright when I speed up behind it."

ailbheg

sup_dude wrote: »

Hmmm... in which case, I think I may start issuing a few summons then so

I think I would nearly be a good idea to post a copy of this into everyone who will be driving through a horse populated area (i.e. everyone) as the amount of times people have been arrogant on the road, when I was riding, to the point of endangerment, is unbelievable. Cyclists would be another good target for passing the above onto... both for the horse/rider safety and their own.

It always amazes me when a cyclist (or car driver for that matter) comes whizzing up behind you and passes without giving much space. I know it's ignorance in most cases, they just don't realise that the horse could react badly, but surely common sense would make them think "This is an animal, I should give it more space as it could get a fright when I speed up behind it."

ETA: Regarding the bold bit, technically it has been done AFAIK, albeit a long time ago - didn't every household in the country receive a copy of the rules of the road a few years back? I know it doesn't mention the summons bit, but it does have the rules on how road users should behave around other road users. (I also know there's a good chance that many of those copies were never read, which could potentially happen if a new campaign was started.)

Borderfox

A lot of the problems arise from drivers only having driven cars, I had the same problems with car drivers when I cycled as when I am on a horse. The farrier I know had an incident with some cars up around where he lives, they drove past him at full speed 60mph+ beeping the horns.

I would also recommend fluorescent clothing bands when out hacking to give yourself the best chance of being seen.

ailbheg

Borderfox wrote: »

A lot of the problems arise from drivers only having driven cars, I had the same problems with car drivers when I cycled as when I am on a horse. The farrier I know had an incident with some cars up around where he lives, they drove past him at full speed 60mph+ beeping the horns.

I would also recommend fluorescent clothing bands when out hacking to give yourself the best chance of being seen.

I think that's the problem, they don't realise that passing at speed isn't a good idea.

I fully kit both myself and pony out in high viz when on the roads, ridden and in-hand. Unfortunately not everyone slows down, even when you're visible.